US: No travel ban for Ebola countries

The United States is not considering travel ban for people coming from countries where the Ebola virus has become epidemic, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Friday.

Earnest’s remarks come as concern is rising about the disease, which has already killed over 3,400 people in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in the latest outbreak.

In addition, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.) and others have called on the Obama administration to impose travel bans for suspicious people.

Earnest said that African airports are equipped with a multi-layer screen system which helps identify passengers exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms.

He also said that all crew members as well as customs officials and border patrol agents have received necessary trainings in identifying signs of Ebola.

Meanwhile, Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, said that the Ebola virus is under control in the United States.

“We know how to do this, and we will do it again,” Monaco said at a press briefing on Friday, adding, “It’s very important to remind the American people that US has the most capable healthcare system and the most capable doctors in the world, bar none.”

The US is dispatching 1000 troops to Africa to assist in the fight against Ebola. This is in addition to 3,000 troops President Barack Obama has already ordered to West Africa.

“We project that there could be nearly 4,000 troops deployed in support of this mission,” Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said Friday.

Texas health officials are closely monitoring 50 people who had close contact with a man who was the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the US.

There is currently no known cure for Ebola, which is a form of hemorrhagic fever with diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding as its symptoms.